"We are honored to be returning this year as defending champions, but while winning was difficult enough it will be even more difficult defending it. We are not the dark horse team this year and everyone will be looking to take us down

The field looks as strong as ever and as always to come out on top will be a magnificent achievement. The team to fear this year is Team Ontario... they are a great team and will be hard to beat.

To mount a challenge and win this, its always great to start strong and lay down a marker to the rest of the field. We have no real strategy except to take each match as it comes.

We have a new member this year in Hiloopy and we are still getting to know his style but early results look promising and he will be a great addition to the team and make us even stronger."

And there's the scoop from Team Manitoba for Draw 1.

We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight, with growing confidence and strength in the air. ~ Winston Churchill

Team Saskatchewan's skip uckucki (now leading in the standings) had this to say, early this morning,

"

uckuki wrote:HelloI feel good about the team, all Brier veterans. We did quite good in the first game. It does feel like it came little too easy. The opponents let us grab NY bonus in the second end and hold it without breaking it once. They never put a real effort into breaking it and even though they stacked they didn't utilize the stacks to their full potential.

We'll see for the rest of the week. There are several crack teams in the roster, so we are guaranteed good fights. The team we fear most is without doubt Northern Ontario, not so much for their strategy as for their use of poisoned darts.

Our strategy is quite simple: win as many games as possible.

And that's the Scoop.

The Press

We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight, with growing confidence and strength in the air. ~ Winston Churchill

We've received word that Mr. Ryan Harnden (also known as Hippiebroker), has been forced to leave the game due to an injury. I've got him, live, for an interview:

Q: It's a disappointment to us to hear that you are leaving - care to elaborate on the reasons why you can no longer curl?

"Firstly I want to say it is a real pleasure speaking to you Scott Russell. Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, after a tough loss, My Northern Ontario team went out for a few pops and someone got a little too drunk and fell on his broom and broke his leg. So I'm stuck on the sidelines for the rest of the Brier."

Q: Certainly that must be a terrible disappointment to you?

"I'm heart broken. You train for this all year and then to have a freak accident knock you out. I'm lost for words and feel like I'm letting my team down."

Q: Do you feel that your team has a chance without you? How do you feel that you guys have performed, thus far?

"I honestly don't know. It is going to be hard to find a replacement for me as we not only have to find a replacement, but someone sober enough to drive him to Saskatoon so he can compete! That's not going to be an easy task.As far as performance goes, I always believe we have the potential to win every match. We haven't been at our best yet. If the boys do find their game, I think we can take out anyone...even Ontario's Howard rink."

Q: What do you think of your substitute - will he be able to play as strong a game as you?

"Well, I haven't been told who the substitute is, but if he has a pulse, I can't see how he could hurt our team any more than I do!"

Q: Northern Ontario is running in the middle of the pack, but it can catch up - care to share your thoughts on team chemistry and how you guys will take the lead?

"If the boys can get over the heartache of losing my brilliant wit, enthusiasm and my way with using random swear words when it isn't appropriate to do so, I think they can win it all. If Duke (aka Brad Jacobs) can cut down on the whiskey, I think he can lead this team to greatness."

Q: We've been hearing all week of this matchup between the two Ontario teams; how do you feel that your team shapes up to Howard and his veteran squad?

"We've had this match circled on our calendars since we qualified for the Brier. Glenn Howard's rink is the best in the world and I think people won't notice you until you can prove you can beat the best. Our game plan is to take those fire-fighters out for drinks the night before we meet and drink them under the table, and then hope it is a morning draw. If Howard's rink is at their best no one can beat them. But our strength is getting our opponents off their game.If the best team always won, no one would be watching this, and then Tim Hortons wouldn't have spent $187.47 to be the title sponsor in this event!!

I do want to wish everyone in the Brier, nothing but the best of luck this week! And I hope you all have fun and drink well!Remember, sober curling is called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts!CheersHip"

We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight, with growing confidence and strength in the air. ~ Winston Churchill